Inhibition of microrna-134 for the treatment of seizure-related disorders and neurologic injuries

Abstract

A method for preventing or treating epilepsy or status epilepticus, or a brain-related disorder characterised by precipitation of seizures, in an individual, the method comprising the step of treating the individual with an agent capable of inhibiting the activity of miR-134 in the individual, wherein the agent is delivered to the brain of the individual.

1 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A method for treating epilepsy or status epilepticus in an individual comprising administering an agent for inhibiting the activity of miR-134 to the individual, wherein the agent is delivered to the brain of the individual. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the agent for inhibiting the activity of miR-134 is a specific low molecular weight inhibitor of miR-134 expression selected from an antagomir, an anti-sense molecule, a siRNA molecule, a shRNA molecule, a microRNA sponge, a tiny seed-targeting LNA oligonucleotides, and a decoy oligonucleotide. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the agent is a miR-134 antagomir. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the antagomir has a sequence selected from SEQ ID NO: 4 or SEQ ID NO: 5. 
     
     
         30 . A method for inhibiting the development or reducing occurrence of seizures in an individual having a brain-related disorder characterized by development of seizures comprising administering an agent for inhibiting the activity of miR-134 to the individual, wherein the agent is delivered to the brain of the individual. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the brain-related disorder characterized by development of seizures is a brain injury likely to precipitate epilepsy. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the brain injury likely to precipitate epilepsy is selected from the group consisting of stroke, hypoxia, brain injury, infection, tumor, a neurodegenerative disorder, and a metabolic and autoimmune disorder that causes seizures. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the brain injury is caused by stroke. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the metabolic disorder that causes seizures is hypoglycaemia, glycogen storage disease, pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiency, acquired hypoparathyroidism, or Adenylosuccinate lyase (ADSL) deficiency. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the autoimmune disorder that causes seizures is multiple sclerosis, diabetes mellitus, or systemic lupus erythematosus. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the agent that inhibits the activity of miR-134 is a specific low molecular weight inhibitor of miR-134 expression selected from an antagomir, an anti-sense molecule, a siRNA molecule, a shRNA molecule, a microRNA sponge, a tiny seed-targeting LNA oligonucleotide, and a decoy oligonucleotide. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the agent is a miR-134 antagomir. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the antagomir has a sequence selected from SEQ ID NO: 4 or SEQ ID NO: 5. 
     
     
         39 . A method for treating acute neurological injury likely to cause brain damage in an individual comprising administering to the individual an agent for inhibiting the activity of miR-134. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the acute neurological injury likely to cause brain damage is stroke or brain trauma. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the agent for inhibiting the activity of miR-134 is a specific low molecular weight inhibitor of miR-134 expression selected from the group consisting of an antagomir, an anti-sense molecule, a siRNA molecule, a shRNA molecule, a microRNA sponge, a seed-targeting LNA oligonucleotide, and a decoy oligonucleotide. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the agent for inhibiting the activity of miR-134 is a miR-134 antagomir. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the antagomir has a sequence selected from SEQ ID NO: 4 or SEQ ID NO: 5. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the agent is delivered to the brain of the individual. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the agent is administered intra-nasally.